Part 7.... The Redemation of Ruby Shane

I am renaming my story to, The Redemption of Ruby Shane, instead of the Haunting of Ruby Shane because this is going to be a story of Redemption..

When I got home that night Daddy was passed out in his favorite chair. He had wet himself like did every night. Disgusted, I took an old blanket and covered him up.
Momma had long ago put a plastic sheet over the chair and kept it covered with the oldest blankets we had. She had to wash whatever blanket he had wet that night, and then put a fresh one back on in the morning.
Momma was sitting at the kitchen table with the sewing machine. She had out some fabric I had never seen before.

"Ruby, come in here honey." She whispered to me as soon as she saw me.
I walked quietly in the kitchen not daring to make a sound. If we woke Daddy up there would hell to pay.

"What do you think about this fabric?" Momma was smiling a sweet gentle smile.

The fabric was a beautiful shade of turquoise. It made me think of somewhere tropical. "I love it..But where did you get it?"

Momma took my hand and said, "We are going to the attic. I want to show you something."

Anticipation made my heart beat faster. What on earth did Momma have in the attic? As soon as we entered the attic I saw Momma's trunks pulled out of the eaves and opened. They were filled with every color of material you could imagine, and many different textures. Silks, cottons, tulle, flannel, wool, linen.

I stood with my mouth open. "Momma were did you get all of this?"

She smiled a a quiet smile of satisfaction. "I have been saving any extra money I made for the last 6 months, and buying bolts of fabric that came on sale. I looked for fabric stores that were going out of business and I bought what I could afford."

"But why?" Was all I could mange to say. I was stunned at all the material she had accumulated for seemingly nothing. I knew Momma was a wonderful seamstress but she hadn't sewed in a long time. We were barely making it and had little money for luxuries such as new fabrics.

"Ruby I am going to start making clothes and selling them. And aprons and quilts and whatever else I can make that people want. I am starting with making you a new wardrobe . And as long as I have a talent I can use, I am using it to get us out of this prison we are in. Your Daddy doesn't know about this fabric. If he did he would blow up. He would know I have been holding money out. So don't let it slip."

"But how are you going to pull this off without him finding out?" I looked into her determined green eyes.

"When he is passed out at night." We both laughed then. "I will be careful. But I promise you he will not hit you again and we will escape him. I will save every penny I make and get us out of here."

" When he asks you about the new clothes you will be wearing I will tell him that Aunt Hazel sent money to get you some new things. Aunt Hazel was an aunt Momma made up so when she had extra money Daddy didn't know where it came from.

" Momma, I don't want to complain but new clothes with old shoes don't really look right." I looked at my shabby shoes and felt my face go hot.

"It is alright honey, I thought about that too. She took out her change purse from her apron and took out a crisp new bill. Take this and get you two pairs of shoes. A pair of dress shoes and a pair of tennis shoes."

"How are you doing this Momma?" I was stunned at the new woman before me.

"Determination Ruby. I am getting us out of this mess. I am tired of the poverty eating us from the inside out. Tired of living a life that ain't worth living. I want us to be happy. You and I have never known happiness and it is time. You have to dream baby. Always remember that. My dream has kept me alive. And that dream is going to save us."

Story by Nita Barrow- Zimmerman

to be continued August 10...

Song Tonight, If You Are Going Through Hell by Rodney Atkins
1st video, 1st clip

This is not just a love story. It is about Ruby's life and those around her. About how we can achieve anything we want to if we fight long and hard enough for it. It is a story of how powerful the human spirit is..

I had gotten out of posting replies on my site in the past month or two. But from now on I will post a reply to everyone who leaves a comment. Just check back for my reply if you want to.